Gilkes, NS

Gunner Norman Stump Gilkes

Norman was born on September 1st 1893 in Ludlow, Shropshire, the second child, and only son, of surgeon Malin Gilkes and his wife, Ellen. His uncle, Arthur Herman Gilkes, was Master of the College for nearly thirty years, between 1885 and 1914; seven of his cousins, four of them sons of Arthur, including Christopher Gilkes who would himself go on to become Master of the College, were fellow Alleynians. Norman first attended for a year between 1904 and 1905, before leaving, subsequently returning to Dulwich for a further two years in 1910, by which time he was a boarder in Elm Lawn. After leaving he worked with the Capital and Counties Bank, based in Church Stretton in his native Shropshire.
After the outbreak of war Norman attempted to volunteer for the armed forces, but was at first refused for service; it took him until May 3rd 1917, on his sixth attempt, to be accepted, signing up as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He went over to France with the 5th Siege Battery, R.G.A., in February 1918, and during the summer saw service at, amongst others, Ypres, Arras and Bethune, before being involved in the push into Belgium that autumn. He passed away in hospital at Wimereux from the effects of double bronchial pneumonia on November 11th 1918, the day on which the Armistice came into effect.